Grab



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1953 w. J. OLSON GRAB Filed Jan. 26, 1949 INVENTOR. WALTER J. OLSON ATTORNEYS W. J. OLSON 6 June 16, 1953 GRAB 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 lll INVENTOR. WALTER J. OLSON MM W ATTORNEYS w. J. OLSON June 16, 1953 GRAB 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 MOE HVVENTDR. WALTER J. OLSON ATTORNEYS W. J. OLSON June 16, 1953 GRAB 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 1 kl. L 1 L INVENTOR. I WALTER J. OLSON BY 8 ATTORNEYS W. J. OLSON June 16; 1953 GRAB 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 June 16, 1953 W. J. OLSON GRAB S Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 26, 1949 FIG. l9

FIQZI INVENTOR. WALTER .J. OLSON BYWM M CW ATTORNEYS Patented June, 16,1953

V 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter J. Olson, Clifton, N. J., assignor to Amen.

ican Brake Shoe Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,818

This invention relates to grabs, and more particularly to grabs or the type especially well adapted for use in foundries, or similar places, to pickv up and transport wheel molds or other round objects.

Various types of grabs have been heretofore knownand used in. the art. However, such grabs have had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being. costly and difilcult to manufacture; being difficult. and impractical in construction and operation, and the like.

Ajprimary object of my invention is to overcome these disadvantages and, to afford a novel grab which may be economically manufactured and is practical and efllcient in construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is to enable molds of other than the conventional form, such BISQf OI example, wheelmolds, and the like, to I be picked up in a novel and expeditious manner.

Molds used in making castings commonly em- 14 Claims. (01. 294-67) of the separable mold in supported position in the grab.

in other instances only the upper portion,-such as the cope, or the cope and chiller-ring ispicked up in this manner, together with the casting. As

. is well known to those skilled in the art, the-cope,

body upper and lower parts which are separable horn each other and are commonly referred to as the cope. and drag, respectively. In, many instances, and especially where larger molds are involved, a third part is disposed between the cope and the drag, and is separable therefrom, this third part being commonly referred to as the .,"chiller" or chiller-ring.

I AS. is wen known to those skilled in the art the common procedure in making castings such as for example, wheel castings, is to make the pour lntoa mold and then permit the mold to coo isiifliciently so that the casting is hardened. After this; it. is, of course, necessary to remove theipastingfrom the mold and, in most instances, the usualprocedure is to. transport the mold withv the castingtherein to a shake out device where,

in the mold is jolted and jarred sulhciently to dislodge the casting therefrom and to clean the molding out or the-mold orflask. In following procedure it is often desirable to shake outl ithe drag at one point and to deposit the-copeiand casting at other points, and it is an important object of myinvention to enable this: tob; accomplished in a novel and expeditious ma ner.

A further object of. my inventionis to enable molds and the like which are. separable into upper; and lower portions, to be picked up as a in a nqvel and expeditious manner.

object: ancillary to the foregoing is to enable sucfigznolds to be. picked up in a manner whereby tljelower part may be released from the grab at wi l While still retaining the upper part drag and chiller-ring in molds used in foundries are commonly open at the top and bottom and, therefore, in picking up and transporting molds and castings in this manner, the adhesion of the sand in the mold is relied upon to support the casting therein durin such transportation of the mold. Obviously this involves a relatively dangerous procedure, inasmuch as a relatively light jolt or jar, during such transportation, might very well dislodge the casting from the mold and cause it to drop, thus endangering those working nearby.

It is a further important object of my invention to afford a novel grab for transporting molds and the like wherein the parts are so constituted and arranged that a casting may be positively supported in a mold being transported in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yet'another object of my invention is to enable a novel grab to be constructed in such a manner that supporting means thereon may be moved into and out of supporting engagement with a mold or the like by a reciprocating plunger in a novel and expeditious manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illus- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken substan tially along the line 88 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of another portion of the grab shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 10 is a right end elevational view of the portion of the grab shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the grab shown in Fig.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken sub-.

stantially along the line |2-l2 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional mew taken,sub-. stantially along the line |3I'3 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l4-l4 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l5-l5 in Fig. 9;'

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view of another portion of the grab shown in Fig. 2, showing the parts thereof in a different position ofeoperation;

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l1l'! in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line l8-l8 in Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line |9l 9 in Fig. 16;;-

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 26 2l6 in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 2I2l in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 22 is a top plan viewof that portion of the grab shown in Fig. 21.- i

In the drawings, the grab 36 shown to illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises, in general, a frame 32, including six substantially radially disposed legs 34, 35, 36, 31, 38 and 39, Fig. 1, on which are movably mounted elongated grappling arms 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, respectively, the grappling arms 4l46 being movable on the legs 34-39 toward and away from each other into and out of work-engaging position, as will be presently described in greater detail.

The frame 32 comprises a central supporting plate or disk 48 onthe upper surface of which the three legs 35, 3| and 39 are mounted, and on the lower surface of which the three legs 34, 36 and 38 are mounted, the legs 3 439 being attached to the disk 48 by suitable means such as welding 56, Fig. 2. The legs 3439 comprise elongated I-beams mounted on the disk 48 in spaced relation to'each other and project radially outwardly therefrom. Two other disks, namely, an upper disk 52 and a lower disk 53 are mounted on the. top surface of the legs 35, 31 and 39, and the lower surface of the legs 34, 36 and 38, respectively, and may be attached thereto by any suitable means such as welding 55.

Six carriages 54, 55, 56, 51, 58 and 59 are mounted on the legs 34-36, respectively, and

disposed side plates 61' and 62, Fig. 5, connected together along the lower edge portions thereof by a bottom plate 66. Each of the carriages 55, 5? and 59 has an inverted U-shaped bracket 66 welded to the side plates 6! and 62 and projecting upwardly therefrom; and each of the carriages 54, 56 and 58 has two brackets or ears 16 and 16a, respectively; weldedg t9; :and projecting upwardly from} thesileiplates Eil and 62 thereof.

Three rollers 63, 64 and 65 are rotatably mounted on each of the carriages 54-59 by studs or bolts 61, 68 and 69, respectively, and aredisposed substantially in axial alignment with three rollers 13, 14 and 15, respectively, likewise mounted on each of the carriages 54--59 by studsor bolts 17, i8 and 19. As isbest seen Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the rollers 64 and afford the means whereby the grappling arms 14 aremounted on the brackets 66 or 16 and 56a of the carriages 55, 51 and 59, and the car riages 54, 56 and-58,. respectively, .inposition to engage the upper flange 81 0f"theilbeam. on which the respective carriage. is. moi jntedg and the pairs of rollrs'63 and 65, .andf'lf31 and. 15, are mounted on the side plates .fiiflandffBZl. respectively, of the carriages 544-59 .i'ri posi tion to engage the loweriflangelfililof the 1-,; beam, with the pair of rollers 64 and l4 dispose'df between the two pairs of rollers 63 .73, ns 65 and 15, respectively, soth'at each oftlie c riages E i-59 is re1ativ'el3{'., well S ulJDOr. against tipping in either'a lateral orflongt dinal direction with respectto' the legsj1 34 49 on which itis mounted.

Each 1 of the grappling Zariiis 42', .44.,and" 46; connected to the upper carriages'55, 57..I' and..'5'9,' respectively, includes .twoside members 85 and 86 which may be formedfof"any.,.suitable material such as, for example, angle'jirons,.,Figs 1, 4 and 5, welded to the outer. surfaces offth'e} side plates 6! and 62, 're'spectivel'yjbf. the' 're spective carriage.' A jaw' member. 88j,'j coinpris. ing a substantially. ;rectan'gula1"I-'s'haped ,sh'e'et metal member is WBldedtOLthe'lOWer'end. per-J; tions of the side members 6'5jand 86., and. two; angle irons 90 and 91 are welded to, the. .lo we f end portions of the side membersrfli' and 6 6 and to the upper surface of the jaw member iit, each of the grappling arms.4.2,..4 l.- and 46. to thereby reinforce the interconnection of thejaw member 88 with the side memberslflsandffl fi. The'jaw' members'88, on th'egrapplinga'rms 42, 44 and 46 afford the normalwork-engaging pore tions of the grappling arms,'fas" willibefdi's'cussed in greater detail presently. I

Like the upper grappling arms ,42, 44and'46, the grappling arms 41,143Qand 4 5, lmounted.on the lower carriages 54,56 and 56;,al o c'dmprise two side members 93 and 94 welded. tot plates 6| and 62, respectively,i and sf pended therefrom. Also, each of thefgrapplirig 4!, 43 and 45 includes a jaw member 96,Fig.19j, comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped plate 91' having two angle irons 'dlld" |UD; Fig. 10, welded to the-uppersurfac'e' of one end portion thereof, the jaw member 96 being pi'v otally mounted between the side member's 93 and 94 by suitable means such as a pin br'shaft- 'l'62 extending through thelowri end portions' of -the side members 93'and'94 and' the upp'er "nan-ge s: the angle irons-'99 and Him-Figs. 9 '5and 101.: The lower end portions :of the-sideimembers 93 and 94 are rounded-Fig. 19,160 171'1816b37 permit rotation of the jaw member 96 on thepin- I62 relativethereto. Howevergitwvilk be seen "thatwa posed, spaced relation to each other.

sag-censor 5. backing plate I04 is. welded onv the rear end. portion of: the: sheet metal member 91 of the jawmember 93. and is engageable with the outer surface of the side. members 93 and; 94,130: thereby limit. rotation of the jaw member 96 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, so that the jaw member 95 may not be rotated in thisdirection beyond the horizontal position in which it is shown in Fig. 9. It will. be seen, however, that the jaw member 93 may be rotated upwardly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.9, to. a position wherein the front or inner edgeportion thereof engages the overlying side plates 6| andv 62: of the carriage from which the jaw member 96 is suspended. A. roller I06 is rotat-- ably mounted on a pin I88 the front end portion of the sheet metal member 91 and the jaw member 96 to facilitate insertion of the jaw member 96 under an article to be lifted, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.v

Therefore, it will be seen that each of the grappling arms 4I-46 comprisestwo elongated. side members suspended by their upper end portions from. a respective one of the carriages- 54-59, and having a jaw member mounted on the lower end portion thereof which projects inwardly from the grappling arm toward the vertical center line of the frame 32 to thereby afford inwardly projecting members adapted to supportingly engage articles of work to be lifted by the grab, as will be apparent hereinafter.

Three substantially L-shaped guide plates III, H2 and H3 are connected to'the lower surface of the disk 53 of the supporting frame 30 by suitable means such as welding and are suspended therefrom in substantially radially dis- Each of the guide plates III, H2 and II3 has a notch II5 formed in the lower end portion thereof which affords means for engaging the upper surface of a mold, or the like, when the latter is supported in normal position on the grappling arms 4I--46, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Two reinforcing flanges H1 and H8, I and I2I, and I23 and I24, are. mounted on the upper end portions of the guide arms III, [I2 and H3, respective1y,at opposite sides thereof and are engaged with the lower surface of the aforementioned bottom disk 53 to thereby afford efiicient lateral support for the guide arms III-H3.

A power unit I26, Figs. 1 and 2, comprising a cylinder or housing I23 within which is reciprocably mounted a plunger I30, is mounted on the outer peripheral edge surface of the top of the supporting disk 48 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as bolts. I32. The outer end portion of the plunger I is connected by a link I34, Figs. 1 and 2, to a crank I36 connected to a shaft I38 by suitable means such as a pin I39. The shaft I38 is journaled in bushings I41 and I42. mounted in the central portion of the supporting disks 52 and 50, respectively, Figs. 1 and -2, and spacer sleeves I44 and I45 are mounted on the shaft I38 above and below the crank I36 between the crank I33 and the bushings I4! and I42, respectively. Thus, it will be seen that the shaft I38. is. rotatably mounted in the bushings MI and I42 and is held against longitudinal displacement therefrom by the pin I39 and the spacer sleeves I44 and I45.

A supporting collar I41 is mounted on, the upper end portion of the shaft I38 above the supporting disk 52 and a triangular-shaped plate I49, Figs. 1, 2 and 16, is mounted on the upper end. portion. of. thezshaft: I38: in. engagement with the. supporting collars I41 and; is connected to. the shaft I38: by suitable. means such as welding I50 for rotationtherewith.

Three links. I52,v I53 and: I54 are connected at one endby-pins I56, I51 and I58 tothe respective apexes of. the triangular plate. I 49 and areconnectedi at thei'r opposite end portions by pins I60. I GI and I62 to. the brackets 66 mounted on the carriages 42,. 4.4. and 46, respectively, and afford interconnections:between the. carriages 42, 44' and. 43 and the; triangular plate I49 whereby upon rotation of the plate: I 4.9 the carriages 42,. 44. and. 45. may be caused to. reciprocate o the legs 35, 3.1 and. 3.3, respectively.

Thus, it. will be seen, that: as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2,. reciprocation of the plunger I30 relative to. the; cylinder I28 of: the power unit I26 is effective through the. interconnection of the plunger I30. with the carriages 42., 44 and 4G by the link I34, the crank: I38, the shaft I38, the triangular plate I49; and. the links I52, I53 and I54, respectively, to cause the carriages 55, 51 and 59- and. therefore, the grappling arms 42, 44 and 46. to. move toward and away from each other on the legs 3.5, 31 and 39, respectively. The power unit I26 maybe one of. several types which are well known tothose skilled inthe art, but I prefer to use av pneumatically or hydraulically operated power unit wherein the plunger I20 may be caused to reciprocate in the cylinder I28 by feeding working fluid such as compressed air, or the like, alternately into and out of the cylinder I28 through suitable means. such as, coupling members I68. and I69 mounted on the opposite. end portions of the cylinder I28, Fig. l.

Another power unit I1I-, comprising. a cylinder or housing I13 in which is reciprocably mounted a plunger I14 is mounted on the outer peripheral edge surface of the top of the supporting disk 53 and is secured thereto by suitable means such as bolts I16 and a bracket I11. The inner end portion of the plunger I15 is connected by a link I19, Figs. 2 and 3, to a crank IBI mounted on a shaft I82 and secured thereto by suitable means such as a pin I84. The shaft I82. is. disposed in vertical position between the supporting disks 4B and. 53, with the upper end portions thereof journaled in the bushing I42 in the disk 48, and the lower end portion thereof journaled in a bushing I86 mounted in, the central portion of the supporting disk- 53. Two spacing sleeves I38 and I89 are mounted on the shaft I82 between the crank I81 and the bushings I42 and I83, respectively, and afford means whereby the shaft I82 is retained against longitudinal displacement from the bushings I42 and I85. A supporting collar ISI- is mounted on the lower end portion of the shaft I82 and a triangular-shaped plate 193 is mounted on the shaft I82 below the collar I9I: and is secured to the shaft I32 by suitable means such as welding I94 for rotation therewith. In a manner similar to that in which the triangular plate I49 is connected to the upper carriages 55, 51 and 59, the triangular plate I33 is connected tothe carriages 54, Hand. 58 by links I95, I96 and I91, the links I -I91 being connected at one end portion to the respective apexes'of the triangular plate I93 by pins 200,-

20I and 202, respectively, and the other end portions of the links I95--I91 being connected by pins 204, 205 and 206 to the bottom plate 69 of the carriages 54, 56 and '51, respectively, Figs. 3,9,11andl2.

Thus, it will be seen that, similarly'to the man-- her in which the power unit I26 is effective to reciprocate the grappling arms 42, 44 and 46, the cylinder I13 of the power unit I1] is eifective. through'reciprocation of the plunger I14, to move the carriages 54, 56 and 58 and, therefore, the

grappling arms 4I, 43 and 45 towardand away from each other on the legs 34, 36 and 38, respectively, the interconnection of the plunger I14 with the carriages 54, 56 and 58 being effected through the link I19, the collar I 8I, the shaft I82, the triangular plate I93, and the links I95, I 98 and I91, respectively. The power unit I 1|, like the power unit I26, may be any one'of several types which are well known tothose skilled in the art, but I prefer to use a pneumatically or hydraulically operated power unit I1I wherein a plunger is caused to reciprocate in the cylinder I28 by feeding working fluid such as compressed air, or the like, into ando'ut of the cylinder I28 through suitable means such as coupling members 208 and 209, Fig. 3, mounted on opposite end portions of the housing I13. 1:

Suitable lifting means such as, for example, U-shaped members 2H and. M2, Figs. 1, 20 and 21, may be mounted on opposite end portions of the frame 32 to aiford means whereby the grab 30 may be readily engaged by a suitable lifting member such as the customary hooks on a power hoist, or the like, for the purpose of lifting and transporting the grab. The U-shaped members 2 and 2i 2 shown in the drawings, each comprises two angle brackets 2I4 and 2I5, Figs. 21 and 22, mounted on the upper surface of the supporting disk 52 and projecting upwardly therefrom, a shaft 2I6 being mounted in the upwardly projecting portion of the brackets 2 I4 and 2 I5 and affording the supporting member engageable by a hook or the like for lifting the grab 30.

It will be seen that my novel grab 30 is especially well adapted for supportingly engaging molds and the like, of other than the conventional forms, such as, for example, wheel molds, and the like, the grappling arms 42, 44 and 46, and the grappling arms M, 43 and 45, affording means whereby the upper and lower portions of the mold may each be supported from three points, and the grappling arms 4I-46 are adapted to be readily swung toward and away from each other under positive pressure applied by the power units I26 and HI to thereby move the grappling arms into and out of work-engaging position.

In the operation of the grab 30 working fluid such as, for example, compressed air, may be fed into the cylinders I28 and I13 through the couplings I68 and 209 to thereby cause the plungers I30 and I14 to be moved inwardly relative to the cylinders I28 and I13, respectively, from the positions shown in Fig. 2 to the positions shown in Fig. 16. Such inward movement of the plungers I30 and I14 is effective through the aforementioned interconnection thereof with the upper grappling arms 42, 44 and 46, and the lower grappling arms 4], 43 and 45, respectively, to move the grappling arms outwardly toward the positions shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the jaws 88 and 96 on the grappling arms may be lowered over the article to be engaged thereby. After the grab 30 has thus been lowered over the article to be engaged, working fluid may be fed into the cylinders I28 and I13 through the coupling members I69 and 208, respectively, to thereby move thexplungers I30 8 and I14 'outwardlyrelative to the cylinders I28 and I13 and thereby move the grappling arms 42, 44 and 46 and the grappling arms 4I, 43 and 45, respectively, into engagement with the article of work disposed therebetween. Usually, projections or lugs are afforded on the article to be raised by the grab 30 to thereby provide members under which the jaws 88 and 96 may be engaged. However, if no such projections are afforded the jaws 88 and 96 may be disposed beneath the article to be afforded or, if necessary, may be merely pressed into firm frictional engagement with the side walls of the article to 'be' supported, the power units I28 and I'll preferably being of the type which, when necessary, are capable of exerting a substantial inwardly acting force on the grappling arms 4 I46.

It will be seen that the parts of my novel grab 30, and especially the guide arms III-II3 and the grappling arms 4I--46 are constituted and arranged in such a manner that the grab is especially well adapted for use in picking up and transporting the cope and chiller ring of a wheel mold. When so used, it will be seen that the jaws 88 on the grappling arms 42, 44 and 46 may be engaged with suitable means such as a-flange 250 afiorded on the cope C of such a mold, Fig. 2, and the jaws 96 may be disposed beneath a suitable portion of the chiller such as, for example, the flange 252 afforded on the chiller-ring R shown in the accompanying drawings. When so engaged with the cope and chiller-ring, the grappling arms 42, 44 and 4B, and the grappling arms 4I, 43 and 45, are efiective to press the upper surface of the cope into the notches I I5 afforded in the lower end portion of the guide arms III, H2 and I I3, and are also effective to hold the cope and chiller-ring in assembled relation relative to each other. Furthermore, it will be noted that if desired, after the cope and chiller-ring have been raised a short distance from the drag D of the mold, the grappling arms 4|, 43 and 45 may be moved inwardly somewhat to thereby dispose the jaw members 96 thereof beneath the open end portion of the chiller-ring to thereby positively hold the wheel or other casting in assembled relation to the cope and chiller-ring and thereby insure that the casting will not be accidentally dropped from the cope and chiller-ring during transportation thereof. It will be seen that the rollers I06 afforded on the inner end portions of jaw members 96 enable the jaw members 96 to be moved under the casting disposed in.the chiller-ring relatively easily.

Also, it will be seen that with my novel grab 3.0 the casting, chiller-ring and cope may be deposited on the shake-out device in a plurality of different combinations. For example, it will be seen that if it is desired to deposit the chillerring and casting at a common station and to deposit the cope at another station, this may be readily accomplished by first supportingly engaging the upper arms 42, 44 and 46 of the grab with the cope, and engaging the lower grappling arms 4|, 43 and 45 with the drag; and then transporting the grab and the work engaged thereby to the first station; actuating the power unit I1I in a manner whereby the grappling arms M, 43 and 45 are moved outwardly sumciently to disengage from the chiller-ring R to thereby drop the chiller-ring and the casting from the cope C; and thereafter transporting the grab 30, with the cope 0 still engaged by the arms 42, 44 and 46 thereof, to the second station where the power unit {26 may be actuated to effect outward movement of the grapplin arm 42, 44 and 46 to therebyrelease the cope and deposit the same in the latter desired'position.

If, on the other hand, it is desired to deposit the casting at one position, the chiller-ring at another position, and the cope at still another position, this also may be readily ac-complished with my novel grab by transporting the'grab 38 to the first position and then actuating the power unit I'll sufiiciently in'a manner to move the jaws 96 outwardly out of engagement with the casting disposed in the chiller-ring but not sumciently to disengage the jaws 96 from the chillerring itself Thereafter, the grab 30 may be jarred sufficiently to dislodge the casting from the cope and chiller-ring and thereby deposit the casting in the aforementioned first position. Subsequently, the grab 30 may be transported to the second position and the power unit I'll may again be actuated to completely disengage thejaws 98' from the chiller-ring R and therebyrelease the I chiller-ring from the cope C and deposit the chiller-ring in the second position. Subsequently, the grab may be moved to the third position and the power unit 126 actuated to deposit the cope in this last mentioned position.

Thus it will be seen that I have afiorded a novel grab which is especially well adapted for use in supporting and transporting wheel molds and the like wherein the article to be transported embodies upper and lower portions which are separable from each other but which, during the transportation thereof, it is desired to retain in assembled position relative to each other.

Furthermore, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel grab whereby Wheel molds and the like may be transported in such a manner that thewheel is positively supported in the cope and chiller-ring of'the mold during transportation thereof so that it is assured that the wheel will not be accidentally dislodged from the cope and chiller-ring during such transportation.

Also, it will be seen that I have afforded'a novel grab wherein, although the various grappling arms may be selectivelyactuated, the grappling arms are so constituted and arranged that they cooperate with each other in supporting articles of work such as wheel molds, and the like, where in separable'upper and lower portions of the article of work may be positively held together during predetermined stages of such transportation.

Also, it will be seen that I have afiorded a novel grab wherein the grappling arms thereof are operable to be moved in a positive .manner'in both work-engaging and disengaging direction.

Furthermore, it will be seen that I have afforded a novel grab of the aforementioned type which is efiicient in operation and whichrmay be economically produced commercially. t

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it

arms being slidably movable on said frame ra- 10 dially of said s es into and out'of a predetermined position, alternate ones of said arms being positioned to supportingly engage said upper and lower portions, respectively, of such a mold when disposed in said predetermined position.

2. A grab of the type adapted to support a mold having separable upper and lower portions, said grab comprising a sup-porting frame adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position relative to such a mold, a plurality of grapplingarms mounted on said frame and movable toward and away from each other, into and out of supporting position relative to the said upper portion of such a mold when said frame is disposed in said predetermined position, a plurality of other grappling armsmounted on said frame and movable toward and away from each other, into and out of supporting position relative to the said lower portion of such a mold when said frame is disposed in its said predetermined position, and means for selectively moving said first mentioned grappling arms toward each other, and said other grappling arms toward each other, into simultaneous supporting engagement with the said upper and lower portions of such-a mold, respectively, when said frame is disposed in said predetermined position to thereby'positi'vely support said upper and lower portions of said grab from said'frame. I

3'. A grab of the type adapted to support a mold having separableupper and lower portions, with the said lower portion having an open bottom,

said grab comprising a supporting frame adapted to be disposed in a predetermined position relative to such amold, apluralityof grappling arms suspended from said frame andmovable horizontally relative thereto into and out of supp-orting engagement with the said upper portion of such a mold when said frame is disposed in said predetermined position, a plurality of other grappling arms suspended from said frame and movable horizontally relative thereto into and out of supporting engagement with the said lower portion of such a mold when said frame is disposed 'insaid predetermined position, said othergrappling arms having supporting members operable to project inwardly below said openbottom of I the said lower portion of such a mold in supporting relation thereto when said other grappling arms are disposed in said supporting engagement with said lower portion, and means mountedon said frame for movingsaid first mentioned graptive thereto into and out ofa predetermined position relative to said frame, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on said carriages, eachof said grappling arms being suspended from a respective one of said carriages and movable therewith into and out of said predetermined position relative to saidv frame, predetermined ones of said.

grappling arms being positioned when disposed in said last mentioned position to supportingly engage sa-id upper'portion of such-a mold, predetermined other ones of said grapplin arms being positioned when disposed in said predetermined position relativeto said'frame to supportingly engagesaid lower endportion of sucha mold, and means connected to said carriages for moving said carriages and'said grappling arms into and out of said predetermined position relative to said frame.

5. A grab of the type adapted to support a separable article such as a mold, or the like, having separable upper and lower portions, said grab comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of carriages mounted on said frame and movable radially relative thereto toward and away from each other, a plurality of grappling arms mounted an said carriages and movable therewith relative to each other into and out of supporting engagement with such a mold when said mold is disposed in predetermined position relative to said frame, predetermined ones of said grappling arms projecting from said frame to a position for said radial movement into engagement with said lower portion of said mold, and other ones of said grappling arms projecting from said frame to a position for said radial movement into engagement with said upper portion of said mold, and means for moving said carriages radially of said frame toward and away from each other to thereby move said grappling arms into and out of said supporting engagement with the said mold. 6. A grab of the type adapted to support a separable article such as a mold, or the like, having upper and lower portions separable from each other, said grab comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of elongated guide arms mounted on said frame and projecting downwardly therefrom and having a downwardly facing portion for engaging the top of such an article, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on said frame and projecting downwardly therefrom, said grappling arms extending below said downwardly facing portions on said guide arms and being movable radially inwardly and outwardly in a horizontal direction relative to said frame, predetermined ones of said grappling arms extending below other of said grappling arms, said other grappling arms being positioned to supportingly engage the said upper portion of such a. mold when disposed in a predetermined position to thereby support said upper portion of said mold in engagement with said downwardly facing portion of said guide arms, said predetermined grappling arms being positioned to supportingly engage the said lower portion of said last mentioned mold when disposed in a predetermined position to support said lower portion in closed relation to said upper portion and assist said other grappling arms in supporting said upper portion of said mold in engagement with said downwardly facing portions of said guide arms, and means for moving said grappling arms radially of said frame into and out of said predetermined positions.

7. A grab for picking up and supporting articles of work, said grab comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of radially disposed elongated supporting legs, a plurality of carriages mounted on said legs and movable longitudinally thereof, each of said carriages being mounted on and supported by a respective one of said legs, a plurality of elongated grappling arms each having an upper end portion and a lower end portion and each being suspended by its upper end portion from a respective one of said carriages, predetermined ones of said grappling arms extending below the other ones of said grappling arms, each of said grappling arms being adapted to be moved with said carriages into and out of article-supporting position upon reciprocation of said carriages along said legs, and means connected to said carriages 12 for reciprocating said carriages along said legs to thereby move said grappling arms into and out of said article-supporting position.

8. A grab for picking up and supporting articles of work, said grab comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of radially disposed elongatedsupporting legs, predetermined ones of said legs being disposed in one common plane, and other ones of said legs being disposed in another common plane, a plurality of carriages mounted on said legs and movable longitudinally thereof, each of said carriages being mounted on a respective one of said legs, two groups of elongated grappling arms, each of said grappling arms having an upper end portion and a lower end portion and being suspended by its upper end portion from a respective one of said carriages, said grappling arms in one ofv said groups being suspended from carriages mounted on legs in said one plane,'and said grappling arms in the other of said groups being suspended from carriages mounted on legs in the other of said planes, said lower end portion of said grappling arms in said one group being movable with said carriages into a predetermined position for supportingly engaging the upper end portion of such an article of work, said lower end portion of said grappling arms in the said other of said groups projecting below said lower end portions of said grappling arms in said one group and being movable with said carriages into a predetermined position for supportingly engaging the lower end portion of such an article of work, and means for moving said carriages longitudinally of said legs to thereby move said grappling arms in said groups into and out of said predetermined positions.

9. A grab for picking up and supporting articles of work having upper and lower portions that are separable from each other, said grab comprising a plurality of radially projecting elongated legs, each having a top wall and a bottom wall, a plurality of carriages mounted on said legs and movable longitudinally thereof, each of said carriages being mounted on a respective one of said legs and including a plurality of rollers engageable with the said top and bottom walls thereof, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on and suspended from said carriages, certain of said grappling arms extending below the other of said grappling arms, each of said arms being suspended from a corresponding one of said carriages and being movable therewith relative to said legs, and means for moving said carriages longitudinally of said legs to thereby move said grappling arms into work-engaging positions wherein said arms are adapted to engage respective portionsof such an article of work to thereby support said article of work with said upper and lower portions thereof in closed position relative to each other.

1D. A grab for picking up and supporting a wheel mold, or the like, having upper and lower portions that are separable from each other, said grab comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of legs projecting radially from a common center, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on said legs and movable thereon relative to each other into and out of work-engaging position, and means rotatably mounted between said legs at said common center, said means being rotatable around said common center as an axis and being operatively connected to said arms for moving said arms on said legs relative to each other into and out of work-engaging position upon rotation of said means around said center.

11. A grab for picking up and supporting a wheel mold, and the like, having upper and lower portions that are separable fromeach other, said grab comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of radially projecting legs, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on said legs with each of said arms being suspended from and movable longitudinally of a respective one of said legs, each of said arms having a work-engaging portion adapted to engage a portion of such a mold in supporting relation thereto when disposed in a predetermined position on said respective leg, said work-engaging portion on predetermined ones of said arms being so disposed when said arms are in said position to so engage the said upper end portion of such a mold, and said work-engaging portion on the other of said arms being so disposed when said arms are in said position to so engage the said lower end portion of such a mold, and means rotatably mounted between said legs and connected to said arms for moving said arms into and out of said predetermined position.

12. A grab for picking up and supporting a wheel mold, or the like, having upper and lower portions that are separable from each other, said grab comprising a supporting frame including two groups of radially projecting legs, one of said groups of legs being disposedin one common plane and the other of said groups of legs being disposed in another common plane in parallel relation to said one group, a plurality of grappling arms relative to said legs into and out of said work-engaging position, and means rotatably supporting said first mentioned means between said legs.

13. A grab for picking up molds, and the like,

having upper and lower portions that are separable from each other, said grab comprising a supporting frame including two groups of elongated I-beams projecting radially outwardly from a common axis, each of said I-beams having a vertically disposed web and horizontally disposed upper and lower flanges, one of said groups of I-beams being disposed in one common plane and the other of said groups being disposed in another common plane in parallel relation to said one plane, a plurality of carriages mounted on said I-beams andmovable longitudinally thereof, each of said carriages being mounted on a respective one of said I-beams and including rollers disposed between the said flanges thereof and in engagement therewith to insure against vertical displacement of said carriages relative to said I-beams, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on and suspended from said carriages and movable therewith toward and away from each other into and out of a predetermined position, said arms mounted on carriages on said one group of I-beams being adapted to supportingly engage the upper portion of such a mold when said carriages are disposed in said predetermined position, and said arms mounted on carriages on said other group of I-beams being adapted to supportingly engage the lower portion of such a mold when said carriages are disposed in said predetermined position, and means rotatably mounted on said frame along said common axis and operably connected to said carriages and operable upon rotation to move said carriages and said arms into and out of said predetermined position, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said last named means for rotating said last named means.

14. A grab for picking up and supporting a wheel mold, or the like, having upper and lower portions that are separable from each other, said grab comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of elongated outwardly projecting legs, a plurality of grappling arms mounted on said legs and movable thereon longitudinally thereof into and out of work-engaging position, means rotatably mounted between said legs on a vertical axis transverse to the length of said legs, and elongated link members, operatively connected to said arms and said means, for moving said arms on said legs relative to each other into and out of said work-engaging position upon rotation of said means about said axis and relative to said legs.

WALTER J. OLSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 954,584 Penfield Apr. 12, 1910 1,544,011 Kearns et a1. June 30, 1925 1,615,115 Durhan Jan. 18, 1927 1,865,739 Bergm-ann July 5, 1932 2,087,877 Ralston et al. July 20, 1937 2,120,639 Buente June 14, 1938 2,138,498 McMillan Nov. 20, 1938 2,284,238 Todd May 26, 1942 

